INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1856, 1 June 1888, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, May 31. A meeting of the Auckland P l<tfo»l Financial Reform Association was held to-day to oonßider the tariff, when it was resolved— "That in the opinion of this Association, in view of the present depressed condition of the industries and commercial Interests of the colony, increased taxation is inopportune, and calculated to stPl further prejudice the welfare of the people, and that a reduction In expenditure should be made to balance tbe income and expenditure of ihe co'ony. : ' Wellington, May 31. I The City Council tonight accepted the tender of tbe Guloher Electric L'gbt Company, London, for lighting the city by electricity, at £1750 per annum for the first five years. A body was taken out of the harbor this afternoon, and identified as that of one Rodgere, a fireman, who has been missing from the steamer Tongariro. Oamaru, May 31 . A public meeting was held here tonight in connection with the proposal of the Government to collect a Bpecisl railway rate from settlers in the Duntroon — Hakatera mea railway district. Both the railway company who previously held the line, aad the Government who purchased It, failed to collect the rate by legal process, and a speoial Aot is now proposed enabling tbe Government to collect the rates, When the settlers in the district purchased the lands from the Crown no mention wsb made of their being liable to a railway rate and the Government, therefore, obtained the extreme price for tbe land. Furthermore, the Company, in making the line, did not carry it to the point first agreed upon. On these grounds the settlers object to pay the rate, and consider that the speoial high tariff on the line is sufficient taxation. At the meeting to-night a number of resolutions were passed in opposition to the rate, and these were ordered to be sent to the I Government Dunedin, May 30. The Manufacturers' Association have considered the tariff, and intend to forward a number of recommendations to the Government. The jam manufacturers have forwarded a joint telegram to tbe Otago members, pointing out that the duty on fruit pulp, and particularly preserved fruit, will close their factories and throw out of employment 110 hands. They contend that a duty of Hd per lb is equal to 200 per cent ad valorem. A dispute has arisen In Dunedin between the master bakers and workmen, which, if not settled, will result in a strike of a setions nature. The dispute arises : ont of a demand of the men for eight hour* as a day's work. Workmen are takiDg steps to warn other workmen to keep away during the dispute.